Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments



1943- R. w. STANLEY ,5

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS 7 Filed May 10, 1944 4 sheets-5:153 1 L I v o d 0 0 L5: o h 3 m/Z l6 T*" T m II V INVENTOR.

62m 4. gaze.

ATTORNEY. 1

Dec. 7, 1948. w, sTANLEY 2,455,530

-APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AHTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Filed May 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1948. I R. w. STANLEY Filed May 10, 1944 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS INV ENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 7, 1948. R. w. STANLEY 2,455,530

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Filed May 10, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 z a INVENT OR. I

am/d ATR )RNEY.

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Richard W. Stanley, Drexel Hill, Pa, assignor to American Viscose Gorporation, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1944, Serial No. 534,870

This invention relates to apparatus for the production of artificial filaments having irregular denier along their length. The invention particularly relates to a spinning machine in which the spinning material is delivered at a varying rate to the spinnerets so that sections along the filament of heavier. denier, which may be called nubs or slubs alternating with sections of lighter denier.

It has heretofore been suggested to vary the speed of spinning pumps by means of a cam having rises which control the times and duration of operation of the pumps at high speed, the pumps being driven at low speed by a constantly operating mechanism which, however, became disconnected during the intervals of operation at high speed. This system has numerous disadvantages. In the first place, at the instants when the high speed driving connection ceases to function, weak spots which are much smaller in diameter than what should correspond to the normal thin portion of the filaments are produced as a result of the sudden decrease in momentum of the driving mechanism, and because of the play or back lash in the connections with the corn stantly operating slow speed driving mechanism. In the second place, it is impossible to obtain non-systematic irregularity with respect to the frequency of occurrence of the thick portions of the filaments and with respect to the lengths of the thick portions as compared to that of the intervening thin portions without the use of an extremely large cam and associated parts. It has also been suggested to combine an intermittently operated reciprocating pump with a constant speed rotary spinning pump, but such an arrangement has a limited capacity for variation, the result being generally to produce a variation in the diameters of successive thick portions having relatively short lengths. With this arrangement, it is impossible to obtain long thick portions without making the reciprocating pump of inordinately large size.

In accordance with the present invention, these disadvantages are overcome and the production of filaments having irregular denier in which the thick as well as the thin portions may have various lengths within an extremely wide range ind may occur at various regular or irregular intervals is accomplished in a reliable manner without encountering weakened portions of the filaments. This is accomplished by combining the output of a constant volume pump operating at constant speed with a rotary pump which is operated intermittently.

13 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) VIVI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line VII-VII of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section taken on line VIIIVIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-section of one of the air valves of Figure 3; and

Figures 10 to 12 illustrate various modifications of filaments that are obtainable in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the material to be spun is supplied to the machine through the line 2 through the branch 3 to a positive displacement pump 4, such as a gear or rotary piston pump, from which it discharges through the line 5 to the spinneret 6, a plurality of these pumps being driven from the main driving shaft 1 by the gears 8 and 9 respectively, so thatthe spinnin naterialis supplied by the pumps 4 at constant volume. A filter may be provided in the line i though this is not essential. Additional material may be intermittently supplied to each spinneret by the auxiliary pumps I0, which receive the spinning material from the branch 3 through the. T-connection II and discharge the spinning material through a similar T-connection I2 into the discharge line 5 from'the main spinning pump 4. The auxiliary pumps ID are of the rotary type and are preferably also of the positive displacement type, such as a gear or rotary piston pump, and are driven from an auxiliary shaft I3 through the gears. l4 and l5'respective1y. The auxiliary pump shaft is driven intermittently by mechanism within the housing it more particularly shown in Figures lto 6.,

Shaft l3 carries along a portion thereof extending into the housing it three members adapted todrive the shaft in one direction only, so that when one of the members is driving the shaft, it can run ahead of the other two members. The

. first of such members designated by I! is shown as a gear mounted rotatably with respect to the shaft [3 and having a suitable one-way clutch connection with the shaft represented for simplicity by the pawl I8 carried by the hub of the gear which co-operates with the ratchet l9 keyed to the shaft [3. The other two members are also connected th sha t by a vs itabl A eway clutch againrepresented in the drawing as a pawl and ratchet system, and these two members are shown as rotatable sleeves Ma and ll b from which the levers 20a and 2117) eiqtendto alter.- nate sides of the shaft l3 as indicated an Eigure 5. Pins 2| connect the ends of levers 2D to blocks 2| slidably mounted in'opposite ways provided in a yoke 22 which carries opposite-pistons 23 and 24 arranged to reciprocate within cyli-nders 25 and 26 respectively. These cylinders orm municate with supply lines 21 and 28 respectively of a suitable hydraulic system (more particularly described hereinafter) which is adapted to alter- 2o natelyifilloneof -,the .cylindersandithen the other, thereby .-recipr ocating the yoke -12 and imparting oscillatory motion .tothe sleeves 1;".( and 41b- :It.w-ill:;be apparent :that when the yoke move s downwardly, lever a rotates the shaft in amounterclockwise .direction as viewed in Fi ure 5. When the yoke moves upwardly,.lev,er :28!) .causes rotation of thelshaft .13, again inacounterclookwise direction.

The gear I] ;is .driven by a suitable hydraulic motor 29 through thegearsgflLjland 32. Any suitable dorm .of :hydraulic motor may be used, such as a gear or impeller wheel type, thedriving fluid :being :introduced through .the pipe :313 and being discharged through the pipe 34. .A regulatingvalvel35 topermitadiustment to obtain any desired constant volume of fluidimay'beinserted in advance .of .the hydraulic motor .29 .as shown in Figure 3.

The means for controlling the operation of :the yoke 22 and of the gear I! fondriving selectively or in combinationthe shaf-t 3 isshowninEigures 3,17 and .8. The .controlling .means is mounted within the housing 36 and comprises two cams 31 and 38 adapted to be driven either selectively .or together lf-rom .a common driving motor 39. The motor 39 drives .a gear .48 throughsuitable reduction gearing .41. .Gear .43 is driven off gear .42 whichinturn meshes with gear 40. Piriions M and .45 are.drivenby the gears 42 and through the shafts 46' and 41 respectively. Pinion 44 drives :the :cam 3'1 through .the action of gear 48, shaftfiii, pinionli I ,andthe annular gear 52 which is secured to the .cam 31. On the other hand, cam38 is provided with a ratchet .53 which is intermittently .driven by means of .the pawl 54 which is .rotatably mounted won an eccentric 55. The eccentric 55 is driven :by thegear 56 which meshes with pinion 45. A spring 51 presses the pawl 5.4 into engagement with ratchet 53. Apawl 58 which is pressed by a spring 59 against the ratchet 53 serves to prevent the ratchet from S in ing rback with .the return stroke lot the pawl 54.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3 and 9, the action of the cam .31 in'the controlling mechanism is transmitted to the yoke '22 inithe driving mechanism through the valve iii! which has a plunger 6| resiliently urged by the spring =82 .(see Figure 9) to press the pivotally mounted cam follower lever 63 against the cam. The motion of the cam follower 63 alternately from .a rise to a recess in the cam 31 alternately directs the fluid entering the valve at 64 through one or the other of theeports 65 and tfifi-wh qh are .connected to-lines' 4 21 and 28 respectively. When the fluid is directed through port 65 and line 21 into the upper cylinder 25, the relationships of the valve 60 are as shown in Figure 9, the fluid from cylinder 26 being dis- 5 charged through line 28, port 66 and discharge port 61. The spring pressed plunger Sla of valve Bflp of similar ,constructipn presses the cam followeri68.against the cam :38. When the cam follower 68 is in the position shown in Figure .10 the flow of fluid from line 69 through line 34 is preventedhya check valve 10. In this position, (therefore, ,the motor '29 is not operating. However, when the cam follower 68 is swung outwardlvby-a rise on .the cam 38, the fluid from line =69 directed -i-n to line 33a, then through the valve -35, and finally through the line 33 into the hydraulic-motor ,29. In this position, therefore, the hydraulic motor 29 drives the shaft 13 through the gear I! and its associated one-way clutch. A branch 33b of line 33a=is connected to a cylinder Ll so -;that when :fluid is :fiowing through 'line "33 a, the pressure therein .causes the piston 112 to re.- lease ithe cam follower 6.3 :from further .cooperaition .With the cam :35. this way, when the hydraulic motor :29 .operating, the operation of cam '31 cannot .efleot rotation .of shaft I23 thmu hithe piston system-23 ,and .24. A valve '13 is provided in line 13:31; lto permit shutting off cylinder H, if desired. Either of the .camicontrolling systems .may also :be temporarily placed out 10f commission :by removing .any one .of the following elements: cam .3], gear 48,.cam 38, ,or gear .56.

,Cams having any relationships between rises and depressions, lengthsof rises and lengths of depressions may helsubstituted for. cam :31 or cam 38 .01 lbQth- 'From a .considerationof theconnections illustrated in the drawings, it will be apparent that .cam .31 controls the disposition fre- 4n quency of .the short-slubsiin accordancewith the distances abetween the points of rise and the points .of :fall thereon, -a short slub being formed upon each the filaments .at intervals along their length which are proportionate to the distances between each succeeding point of rise and of fall of ithecam .83. .On the other hand cam 38 causes rotation of the auxiliary pump shaft l3 throughout the .time interval during which the cam follower 5.8 is traveling over a rise. Therefore, the tlength of alternate thick and thin portions which are formed by the operation of cam 38 correspond to the arcuate lengths of the alternating depressions and rises in the cam 38.

The invention utilizes the simplicity and versa- 5 ti-lity of a hydraulic operating mechanism which combines :both .the reciprocatory motor type as illustrated by the pistons 2-3 and 24 and the rotary type motor shown at 29. By this combination of mechanisms it is-possible-to obtain in an efiicient and reliable manner as wideavariation in the thick 'andfthin pattern of filaments and the yarns composed thereof as may ever'be needed in the manufacture of the yarns, cords, and fabrics-of knitted, oraided or woven structure.

"In Figuresl'0 to 12,severalillustrative forms or filaments are shown on'areduced scale particularly as to lengths. =Figur'e 10 shows a tyne of thick and thin filament -which is obtained when utilizing only the rotary motor -29 for driving the 70 auxiliary shaft 13. The thick portions mayibe of any lengthu-pto severalfeetif desired. 'Figure 11 illustrates the type of thick and thin filament which is obtainable when using only ,tr' ciprocatory motor 23 and 24 for driving theauxiliary pump shaft IS. The thick portions in this case may be made of various lengths from a fraction of an inch to an inch or two or longer, if desired. Figure 12 shows a type of filament which is obtainable when utilizing both the rotary and reciprocatory motors for driving the auxiliary shaft l3.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown, it is to be understood that changes or modifications may be made without departing fromv the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a spinning pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, means for driving the pump at constant speed, an auxiliary rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge sideto the spinneret, a reciprocatory hydraulic motor, a rotary hydraulic motor, and means for selectively connecting each of said motors to said auxiliary rotary pump for intermittently driving the auxiliary pump.

2. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a reciprocable member having a portion thereof extending transversely of, and

laterally offset from, the shaft, means for recipro-cating the member transversely of the shaft, and clutch means connecting the member to the shaft for transmitting motion of the mem ber to rotate the shaft in one direction only.

3. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive dis placement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a reciprocable member having a portion thereof extending transversely of, and laterally offset from, the shaft, means for reciprocating the member transversely of the shaft, and clutch means connecting the member to the shaft for transmitting motion of the member to rotate the shaft in one direction only, and a rotary motor for rotating the auxiliary shaft.

4. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary charge rate connected on its suction side to the,

feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a rotatable member on the auxiliary shaft, a hydraulic reciprocatory motor connected eccentrically to the rotatable member to impart oscillatory motion thereto, clutch means connecting the member to the auxiliary shaft for transmitting motion of the member to rotate the shaft in one direction only, and cam means for intermittently operating the hydraulic motor.

6. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume dis charge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprisin a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the members being connected to the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective members-in one and the same direction only to the shaft without interference by the others of such rotatable members, a reciprocatory motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable members, and a rotary motor for rotating at least one of the rotatable members.

7. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume dis-v charge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an aux iliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line andon its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for. intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the members being connected to the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective members in one and the same without interference by the others of such rotatable members, a reciprocatory motor for os'cil-.

direction only to the shaft aesaeeo lifting at least one or the rotatable members, a rotary motor for rotating another or the rotatable members, cammeans for controlling the interm-ittent operation of the reciprocator'y motor, and additional cam means for controlling the operation of the rotary motor;

8. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a s'pinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump" conheated on its suction side to the feed line andon its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the membersbeing connected to the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective membersin' one and the same direction only to the strait Without interference by the others of such rotatable members, a reciprocatory motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable members, a rotary motor for rotating another of the rotatable members, cam means for controlling the intermittent operation of the reciprocatory motor, additio'nal cam means for controlling the operation of the rotary motor, a common driving means for the two cam means, and means operativ'ely associated with the additional cam means for preventing operation of the reciprocatory motor during' the intervals of operation of the rotary motor.

9. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on itssuction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an. auxili'ary positive displacement rotary pumpconn'ected on its suction side to the feed line and on its dischargeside to the spinneret, anall-xiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a recipr'ocabl'e member having a por tion thereof extending transversely of, and lat erally offset from, the shaft, means for reciprocating the member transversely of the shaft, and clutch means connecting the member tothe shaft for transmitting motion of the member to rotate the shaft in one direction only, a rotary motor, clutch means connecting said motor to the first auxiliary shaft, and means for selectively operating the reciprocating means and the rotary motor.

10'. Apparatus for prcducmg artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feedline for the material to be spun, a positive dis-- placement pump having a constant volume dis-- charge rate connected on its suctionside to thefeed line and on'its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft for driving the pump; meansforrotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump conneeted on its suction side to the feed lineand on its discharge side tothe spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump; means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the-members being connected to 75' the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion: to the respective members in one and: the samedi'rectiori only to the shaft without interference by the others or such rotatable-members, a reciprocatory' hydraulic motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable memhers, and a rotary hydraulic motor for rotating another Of the rotatable members.

11.- Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinmm, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxil'ialry' positive displacement rotary pump connecteu on its suction side to the feed line and on: its discharge side to the spinne'ret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a'plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the members being connected to the auxiliary shaftby clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective members in one and the same direction only to the shaft without interference by the others of such rotatable members, a reciprocatory hydraulic motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable members, a rotary hydraulic motor for rotating another of the rotatable members, cam means for controlling the intermittent operation of the reciprocatory' motor, and additional cam' means for controlling the operation of the rotary motor.

12. Apparatus for producing artificialfilaments of varying denier comprising a spinneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume discharge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its d schar'ge side to the spin neret, a main shaft for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constant speed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft corn-' prising a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the members" being connected to the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective members in" one and the same direction only to the shaft without interference by the others of such rota-table members, a reciprocatory hydraulic motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable members and a rotary hydraulic motor for rotating another of the rotatable members, cam means for controlling the intermittent operation of the reciprocatory motor, additional cam means for controlling the operationof the rotary motor, and acommon driving means for the two cam means.

13. Apparatus for producing artificial filaments of varying denier comprising a sp'inneret, a feed line for the material to be spun, a positive displacement pump having a constant volume clis charge rate connected on its suction side to the feed line and on its discharge side to the spinneret, a main shaft-for driving the pump, means for rotating the shaft at constantspeed, an auxiliary positive displacement rotary pump connected on its suction side to the feed line and onits discharge side to the spinneret, an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary pump, means for intermittently rotating the auxiliary shaft comprising a plurality of rotatable members on the auxiliary shaft, the members being connected to the auxiliary shaft by clutches for independently transmitting motion of the respective members in one and the same direction only to the shaft without interference by the others of such rotatable members, a reoiprocatory hydraulic motor for oscillating at least one of the rotatable members, a rotary hydraulic motor for rotating another of the rotatable members, cam means for controlling the intermittent operation of the reciprocatory motor, additional cam means for controlling the operation of the rotary motor, a common driving means for the two cam means, and means operatively associated with the additional cam means for preventing operation of the reciprocatory motor during the intervals of operation of the rotary motor.

RICHARD W. STANLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

